Chemical and Enzymatic Changes of Different Soils during Their Acidification to Adapt Them to the Cultivation of Highbush Blueberry

Abstract

Although there has been an increase in the cultivation of highbush blueberry (Vaccinium corymbosum L.) worldwide for several years now, the availability of suitable soils for this species remains a problem. Highbush blueberry is a plant that requires acidic soils (pH 3.8–5.5), which are well aerated and have a stable level of groundwater and high humus content. In the present study, substances such as urea phosphate fertilizer, sulfur, sulfuric acid, and phosphogypsum were used to acidify three soils: peat, loamy sand, and loamy silt. The study aimed to lower the pH of the tested soils and optimize this parameter to cultivate highbush blueberry. The resulting changes in pH, content of macro- and micro-elements, and enzymatic activity were evaluated. Acidifying substances mitigated peat and loamy sand’s reaction to highbush blueberry requirements, while the reaction of loamy silt was changed only slightly, which made this soil unsuitable for plant cultivation. Sulfur dust acidified the examined soils rapidly and to the highest degree, followed by urea phosphate and phosphogypsum, while the weakest acidification was achieved with sulfuric acid solutions. The salt concentration of the soil was increased the most by the highest dose of phosphogypsum, which indicated that it could not be used to acidify soil for the cultivation of highbush blueberry. Among the acidifying substances, only urea phosphate showed a stimulating effect on the soils’ enzymatic activity, whereas others did not significantly affect or decrease this parameter.

Archives of Environmental Protection

“…The results obtained here are in line with some previous reports, where the use of phosphogypsum contributed to an increase in the soil salinity (Elrashidi et al 2010, Elloumi et al 2015, Smaoui-Jardak et al 2017, Ochmian et al 2021. That may result in the inhibition of plant growth and ionic imbalance limiting the availability of certain ingredients, including phosphorus (Elrashidi et al 2010).…”

Influence of various types of light on growth and physicochemical composition of blueberry (Vaccinium corymbosum L.) leaves

“…2). Depending on the standards for highbush blueberry developed by different authors [Eck 1988, Bal 1997, Komosa 2007, Ochmian et al 2021, most of the investigated macroelements in the leaves were at an optimal level. The exception was calcium; although it was at a high level in the substrate 38.9 mg 100 g -1 , optimum 10-30 mg 100 g -1 (Tab.…”

Investigation of salinity tolerance to different cultivars of highbush blueberry (Vaccinium corymbosum L.) grown in vitro

“…Reduced effects on the concentration of salt were observed for sulfur, urea phosphate, and sulfuric acid, at the lowest concentration. The most vulnerable material to salinity was loamy sand, and the least susceptible material was peat (Ochmian et al, 2021). Some granular fertilizers of N also contain sulfate, which can cause salt buildup and be detrimental to blueberry plants (Messiga et al, 2018).…”

“…Previous studies show that one of the most important criteria influencing the growth of highbush blueberry (V. corymbosum L.) is the pH of the soil, which must be maintained at low values (3.8-5.5), throughout the culture (Ortiz-Delvasto et al, 2023;Gallegos-Cedillo et al, 2018;Imler et al, 2019;Ochmian et al, 2021;Zhou et al, 2022). Generally, peat soils are most suitable for highbush blueberry but, currently, there is a decrease in these soils (Ochmian et al, 2019;Schreiber and Nunez, 2021).…”

“…After many years of use they may adversely affect soils. For example, the use of acidifying fertilizers causes an increase in salinity (Ochmian et al, 2021) and soil salinity is becoming an increasing problem for production of highbush blueberry (Bryla et al, 2021;Muralitharan et al, 1992).…”